Entertainment

The Roots mural unveiled

The members of The Roots were on hand for the dedication of their Philadelphia Mural Arts Program mural on the north side of South Street just west of Broad on Friday afternoon.

"It hits close to home for me that this is in South Philly," said rapper Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, while drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson joked about how he "used to walk around the streets of Philadelphia wondering 'Where is my mural?'"

But seriously, Questlove said, "All we ever wanted was to make Philadelphia proud of us. It's an honor."

Both Mayor Michael Nutter and Mural Arts diretor Jane Golden introduced the band, the latter saying "This is about social practice, it's about transformation of individual and community." In praising the Roots 101 curriculum at the World Communications Charter School on whose wall the mural, which is the work of Amber Art & Design artists Ernel Martinez, Charles Barbin, Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, Willis "Nomo" Humphey and Keir Johnston.

"Every child in Philadelphia deserves to have art education in the schools," said Golden, who, despite a bad back, jumped up and down behind the Mayor's podium before introducing the band.

The Roots Picnic is at the Festival Pier on Saturday. Cosmo Baker's Official Roots Picnic Mixtape is below.